The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-16

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
What is socialism, There are many phases of
il, both in this country and in Europe. 1t takes
its worst form in anarchism, and the names
of its leaders are nearly all foreign, which sug-
gests its origin This discussion cannot go
much into the history of socialism and its varied
phases, defeats and downfalls. But to the
question what is socialism may be answered
thatit is a movement to precipitate cataclysm
In social order. That has been the tendency of
every radical phase of it, SO far as
its history is known. from Essences
TWO centuries before Christ, down to
the French revolution of Is4s. and the
Pittsburgh riots of 1873 Socialists in every age
have ignored the one great palpable fact. that
social order is a growth and not construction.
This, indeed, is also the mistake of the leaders
of nearly all reform movements. They think to
construct systems rather than to grow them,
and so precipitate upon society their perfect
formulas, instead OF being content to employ
only such as society will accept, till further
growth Is secured under the slower processes of
evolution.
1t proposes TO tear down and start people even.
What natural order in birth and habits in
youth and manhood failed to do for men
on the one hand, Is now proposed to be
done by socialism; ana on the other it pro-
poses uproot the order of creation and what
frugality. habits Of economy and temperance
too strongI Here Is quotation from their
tional declarations:
eve demand that the resources of life-the
means of production, public transportation and
communication land machinery railroads, tele-
graph lines, canals. etc.-become as fast prac-
ticable the common property of the whole peo
pie through the government"
This eonhscstion rs proposed to be done
through the government" Two men, for illus
tration, start equal in the race Of life. By in
dustry, intelligent application, frugality and
temperate habits for thirty years main
tains his course on this line and comes into pos
session Of $40, 900 of the stock In a manufacturing
establishment. and the same amount in railroad
stock 1t IL his surplus accumulation of labor,
mental and physical The other becomes a
spendthrift. lives up his income. and in rounds
OF personal qualification and Incorporate habits,
at the end OF thirty years has nothing. Now he
gees his neighhor fairly clad and comfortably
surrounded be and his like get the idea that
society Is out OF joint organize and declare that
IL is time for men TO start even. The govern
ment" to buy up all these industrial creations
and make all men even 10 them. To do this the
man who has saved $40. 900 must be taxed in
order that the government may have
The purchase money. But does the other
furnish any of the money to buy WITH
He has spent his surplus in riotous living and
has nothing TO paw taxes on. and it amounts
TO conhscation- But suppose even by such con-
fscafion, compelling man to furnish the money
TO some TO buy his own property, the sur
plus Of his own labor, then whatl The provis-
ional government set up by the French social
revolution of 1S46 built man ufacturing estab-
Of workmeu, but every thing tended rapidly to
the absolute ruin of civilization, and quickly a
reaction began and a return to despotism saved
the nation France had more than 30 per cent.
or illteracy, aud the real danger
comes from socialism under such condi
tons. In 1878 tho German Reichstag put
an end 10 the schemes of Socialists by deprivinc
the whole body Of them. some two millions, of
their constitutional rights. This resulted in
driving many OF that class to this country,
where. IN many localities, they have led the so
cialistic movements.
Lord Macauiay, few years ago had great
fears that this country the eve of disso-
luton from socialism. because the ballot
was In every mans hand He said the
masses here would produce spoiation
Ut some no distant day. when they
the fact that some men had mill
ions, while others could not get q full meal and
that eituer civilization or liberty must perish"
But no spoke frorn the stand point Of a country,